A Conjecture on the Nature of Digital Information
abernard102@gmail.com 2014-04-30
Summary:
Use the link to access the full text article from the institutional repository of IUPUI. The Introduction opens as follows: "The term conjecture is can be used to mean an unproven proposition that appears to be correct. Conjectures can be useful in encouraging consideration of problems and in pointing towards possible solutions or ways of understanding. In this paper I will suggest a conjecture on the nature of digital information. My hope is that it advances the how we think about this topic. It is my view that the conjecture is generally correct and that it should lead us to think about and develop information products differently than we have done when information was based on printing. The medium matters and matters in ways that are not always expected or appreciated. As Clay Shirky puts it, 'When we change the
way we communicate, we change society' ... The Conjecture: 1. When information is digital it is non-rival and can be reproduced and distributed at close to zero marginal cost. 2. When information is non-rival and can be reproduced and distributed at close to zero marginal cost people will want it to be open. 3. When information is open it encourages social production ..."